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DeKay's Brown Snake

Storeria dekayi

Published on Project Noah
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32.977, -85.7466

Field Notes

Description:

Spotted in an upland forest in Horseshoe Bend National Battlefield in east-central Alabama. This snake measured 33 cm in length... very big for a brown snake!

Habitat:

This snake occurs in nearly all terrestrial and wetland habitat types in its range, including cities.

Notes:

This snake was fine when I picked it up and measured it and took photos. Then when it was put back where it was found, it got really aggressive! It struck several times and stayed in striking position for quite some time afterward. Those little snakes have a lot to prove.

Reference Links:

Storeria dekayi HOLBROOK 1842

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
marylou.wildlife
This snake did the same thing! Before it started striking, it laid flat out and lifted only its head off of the ground looking just like a little cobra. Flattening itself out made it look at least twice its size! And I had never experienced this behavior from a DeKay's brown before either... it was surprising!
ScottRasmussen
Nice pictures. That's definitely a good size for a brown snake. I really like DeKay snakes. I once had a really tiny one that I'd encountered basking on the road give me a show of repeatedly striking with a wide open mouth. It even flattened its neck and tried to look like an itty-bitty cobra. That's the only time I've ever seen a brown snake act like that.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Snakes of the Southeast U.S.
Mission
Reptiles of the World
Mission
Snakes of the World
Mission
Snakes of the United States - Center for Snake Conservation
Photographed
PublishedAugust 17, 2011

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